The Hindu Business Line : AP Cong manifesto promises growth and employment

THE election manifesto of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), released here on Monday, promises to take the State on to a higher growth trajectory, improve the human development indices, create new employment opportunities and empower the Panchayat Raj and local body institutions.

The main thrust areas of the party will be to bring into production large number of sick industrial units, continue support to IT and IT enabled services and promote tourism and film industry through support to low budget movies. The budgetary allocations will reflect the "prime necessities and productive purposes," so as to achieve physical and human capital formation. Reforms in agriculture and rural development will precede reforms in industry and services.

The Congress, which is going to polls in the State in alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi that is demanding separate Statehood to the Telangana region, has stated in its manifesto that the party recognised the growing emotions and aspirations of the people of the Telangana region. It, however, maintained that the reorganisation of existing States raised a large number of issues. "The whole matter could be best addressed by another States Reorganisation Commission."

On the agriculture front, the manifesto promises constitution of an Agriculture Technology Mission under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister to improve farm productivity by at least 40 per cent. This apart, a one time settlement scheme will be announced for cooperative agricultural loans and interest on crop loans from banks will be subsidised to the extent of 6 per cent.

In the case of industry, the manifesto has stated a high-powered task force will be set up to assist new entrepreneurs. Similarly, an Industrial Rehabilitation Board will be established to revive sick industries. For new projects, a single window clearance system will be implemented.

The manifesto states that top priority will be given to IT and IT enabled services. The party proposes to set up at least six centres in the three regions of the State for imparting skills both in spoken English and technology to qualified graduates for building the trained manpower base for taking up jobs in BPO outfits.

Apart from providing free power to the agriculture sector, the party promises to give free power of 15 units per month to dwelling units of people below poverty line using single bulb. For middle class families, subsidised power up to 50 units per month will be supplied.

Promising to bring in one-lakh hectares a year under assured irrigation, the Congress manifesto stated that a separate Irrigation and Power Finance Corporation would be set up in the State for resource mobilisation and implementation of various irrigation projects.

More Stories on : Politics | Andhra Pradesh

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
AP Cong manifesto promises growth and employment

Cenvat: Powerloom bodies threaten to swarm ballot

Bihar set for an interesting tussle